Kitten Growth Chart
Kitten weight by age for male and female domestic shorthair kittens from 8 weeks to a year, drawn from the open data behind the WALTHAM kitten growth standards (Salt et al., 2022). Enter your kitten's weight to see where it sits.
Kitten weight chart by week
Weights for healthy domestic shorthair kittens in the Salt et al. (2022) modelling dataset. Ages between measured points are interpolated.
| Age | Female, typical | Female, middle 50% | Male, typical | Male, middle 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 2.1 lb | 1.7 lb–2.5 lb | 2.0 lb | 1.6 lb–2.5 lb |
| 10 weeks | 2.5 lb | 2.2 lb–2.8 lb | 2.6 lb | 2.2 lb–3.1 lb |
| 12 weeks | 3.1 lb | 2.6 lb–3.4 lb | 3.3 lb | 2.8 lb–3.9 lb |
| 14 weeks | 3.5 lb | 3.2 lb–3.9 lb | 3.9 lb | 3.4 lb–4.5 lb |
| 16 weeks | 4.1 lb | 3.5 lb–4.5 lb | 4.6 lb | 4.1 lb–5.3 lb |
| 18 weeks | 4.4 lb | 3.9 lb–5.0 lb | 5.4 lb | 4.6 lb–6.0 lb |
| 20 weeks | 4.8 lb | 4.3 lb–5.4 lb | 5.9 lb | 5.2 lb–6.6 lb |
| 24 weeks | 5.6 lb | 5.1 lb–6.2 lb | 6.9 lb | 6.2 lb–7.8 lb |
| 28 weeks | 5.9 lb | 5.3 lb–6.6 lb | 7.8 lb | 7.1 lb–8.6 lb |
| 32 weeks | 6.3 lb | 5.7 lb–6.9 lb | 8.3 lb | 7.2 lb–9.1 lb |
| 36 weeks | 6.5 lb | 5.9 lb–7.4 lb | 8.8 lb | 7.9 lb–10.2 lb |
| 1 year | 6.7 lb | 5.9 lb–7.7 lb | 9.5 lb | 8.3 lb–10.8 lb |
Reading the kitten growth chart
The WALTHAM researchers found that what matters is the pattern, not a single weigh-in. In their study, kittens that crossed two or more percentile lines upward tended to become overweight, and those crossing downward tended to become underweight by early adulthood. About half of healthy research kittens stayed within two centile lines of where they started.
- Weigh at the same time of day on the same scale, every week or two.
- Expect males to pull ahead of females from about 4 months.
- Growth slows a lot after about 6–9 months; most of the gain happens before then.
Newborn kittens (under 8 weeks)
VCA advises weighing young kittens routinely, daily to weekly, and says they should double their birth weight in about a week. Kittens under two weeks feed every two to four hours if they're being hand-reared, and weaning usually starts at three to four weeks. A kitten that isn't gaining, or is losing weight, needs a vet quickly.
A chart can't judge body condition. If your kitten is dropping across the percentile lines, not eating, or seems unwell, contact your vet.
Questions breeders ask
How much should a kitten weigh?
In the Salt et al. (2022) domestic shorthair data, a typical kitten weighs a little under 1 kg (about 2 lb) at 8 weeks, about 1.4–1.5 kg at 12 weeks and around 2.6 kg (female) to 3.3 kg (male) at 6 months. Use the table above for each week.
How much weight should a kitten gain per week?
Young kittens should roughly double their birth weight in about the first week (VCA). From 8 weeks the chart above shows the typical pace; steady growth along a percentile line matters more than an exact weekly figure.
When do kittens stop growing?
Most of the weight gain happens in the first six to nine months, and growth slows sharply after that. Large breeds keep growing for longer.
Does this chart work for Maine Coons or other large breeds?
No. It is based on domestic shorthair cats. Large breeds grow bigger and for longer, so ask your breeder or vet for breed-specific expectations.